Trailer Tire Facts - Discount Tire
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Good article Bruce, thanks for sharing. I bought the Tracker in 2010 and replaced the tires late last summer because I made long road trips to Oklahoma and Arkansas and noticed the wear. Spare never used and in good shape. Bearings checked and re-packed winter 2012. I wonder now how often should I tend to them (the bearings)? Thanks again.
I used to repack my own bearings and it would take me half the day and make a mess.....then I started taking it to a trailor place and let them repack them as it was not very much $$$$$......also had my trailor rewired for $35......then it became cost effective to just replace the bearings as the cost of the bearings was very minimal and you didn't have to worry that you missed seeing a bad bearing....to answer your question, I would change out the bearings once a year and give them a shot every now & then during the year....if you ever get stranded late at night on a dark road with a frozen bearing you will never want to do that again....
now, if you have the oil bath system, as I do you can go longer (I was told 10,000 miles) but I still do not go longer than 18 months and I change them out.....
Once a year I bring the trailer in to an auto repair shop and get the bearings repacked.
This last time I had the hubs replaced and new bearings installed. I rather spend the money than have to stop on the side of the road and fix something. I have enough anxiety problems without worrying about that.
I have bearing buddies on mine and fill the bearings with grease every other trip.
Thanks for the article Bruce. After reading this article I decided to get new tires last week, mine were 8yrs old and they were cupping. Now I'm good to go!
STEVE
The first year I had my boat and trailer-2002, I had 2 blowouts on my trailer. I put 2 good tires on in exchange and had 2 more blowouts in the next 2 years while keeping 35 psi in them. A buddy of mine ran a front end shop and I asked him to check out the trailer. He did and said that my tires were under-inflated. He said that if I wasnt running 60 psi, I didnt have enough. I inflated to 60 psi and now my tires are 8 years old with ALOT of miles and still arent worn out. I'll never run less than 60 psi on any trailer again. He said this was for any boat trailer or trailer with tires smaller than your vehicle tires.
Good info